One thing I haven't seen brought up on this page is that Mesaana could CHANGE her identity. Why not, I say. She could become a servant to be unnoticed, etc., and become an AS like Cabriana when she needed to channel. Also, being a servant wouldn't necessarily warrant killing one off, like the AS know one servant from the next, and she wouldn't have to actually report to a cook or anyone. Anyway, the point is that Mesaana could disguise herself as whatever she wanted to suit her needs. As far as discovering who she is, remember that it's easier to weave a mask that is closer to one's own appearance... Though RJ hasn't exactly described ol' Mesaana to oblivion...